Watch: Virat Kohli celebrates with a roar after reaching his 45th ODI hundred
Star Indian batter Virat Kohli has started his 2023 season in style by scoring a century in the ongoing first ODI of the three-match series against Sri Lanka in Guwahati. The 34-year-old let out a big smile after an emphatic roar, having scored consecutive ODI tons as India set Sri Lanka a target of 374 to win.
Kohli's 45th ODI hundred came in the 47th over of the innings off only 80 deliveries as he took a single after driving a slower ball off Kasun Rajitha to long-on.
The right-handed batter came to bat in the 20th over after visiting captain Dasun Shanaka broke the massive opening stand of 143. The former Indian captain looked on song from the get-go.
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However, the veteran batter got two lives during his innings with Kusal Mendis and Shanaka dropping simple chances off Rajitha's bowling. Nevertheless, he made the most of those opportunities and made the opposition pay for them.
The right-arm pacer finally got the better of the Delhi-born player in the 48th over, edging to Mendis for 113 off 87 balls.
Earlier, Sri Lankan skipper Shanaka sent the home side to bat after winning the toss. Rohit Sharma, who had announced Shubman Gill as his opening partner, batted flawlessly before debutant Dilshan Madushanka cleaned him up for 83.
Gill was the first to go, throwing away his wicket for 70. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul perished after playing cameos.
Virat Kohli scores consecutive centuries in 50-overs cricket
The 113-run knock was also the Indian batter's second consecutive hundred in ODIs, after scoring the same number of runs in the most recent game against Bangladesh in Chattogram. It was Kohli's first ODI hundred since August 2019 as India amassed a massive 409/8, headlined mainly by Ishan Kishan's 210.
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A brilliant hundred from @imVkohli as he brings up his 45th ODI ton.
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While India lost that series against Bangladesh, they will hope to clinch the current rubber against Sri Lanka.
The Men in Blue won the three-game T20I series preceding this as Suryakumar Yadav's third T20I ton led the hosts to a 91-run win in the final game in Rajkot.